The 10 Best Budget Shopping Places in Kuala Lumpur

Shopping is one of the top activities of visitors in Kuala Lumpur. This vibrant city offers a wide range of shopping choices from modern malls and specialty shops to lively street markets.

Among those, it is the cheap shopping places that draw the crowd. Cheap doesn’t mean that the experience is less enjoyable. Malls like Berjaya Times Square and Sungei Wang Plaza incorporate excellent entertainment facilities to enhance the shopping experience. Central Market drenches people in art spirit. And Taman Connaught Night Market celebrates street shopping in Malaysian style. There are more and more surprises waiting for you at other wallet-friendly malls and markets across Kuala Lumpur. Use our list to discover them.

1. Central Market

Image credit: Bertrand Duperrin/Flickr

Highlights

A market with comfortable shopping environment: If you ever wish that air conditioning were included in at tropical countries’ markets, then your wish comes true at Kuala Lumpur Central Market. For good measure, stalls are grouped into different zones to celebrate the country’s multiracial culture: Malay stalls at Lorong Melayu, Chinese stalls at Straits Chinese, and Indian stalls at Lorong India. This helps in getting a glimpse of each trading culture and finding the wanted products easier.

High quality handicrafts from A to Z: If you plan to bring Malaysian handicrafts home as souvenirs, then Central Market is your right place. Product variety and pricing are never a problem. Batik prints, Songket fabric, beadworks, woodcrafts, metal crafts, terenang jar and labu sayong clay jar are among worth-mentioning handcrafted creations.

Shop and enjoy art at the same time: The whole market is infused with art concept. Art lovers will have a grand time exploring its Art Lane - observing artists at work and enjoying their completed pictures. Some are willing to sell their works at wallet-friendly prices. You can also have your portrait painted for the ultimate souvenir.

2. Flea market at Amcorp Mall

Image credit: pishal pauzi/Flickr

Highlights

A place for pre-loved items of many kinds: Most items sold at the Amcorp Mall flea market are second-hand goods. There are also pre-owned but unused items on sale. Things can be found there include clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, records, CDs, movie posters, comics, books, antiques, artworks, retro figurines, coins, stamps and many others.

Treasure finds at low prices: We can never guess what kind of treasures might come into view at our visit. Nice surprises can pop up at any of its 300 tables. Old Beatles records, old coins, vintage cameras and rare-to-find antiques are a few examples. So, go ahead and try your luck!

3. Sungei Wang Plaza

Image credit: Phalinn Ooi/Flickr

Highlights

Fashion for the young and young at heart: Ladies, come there to be fallen in love with the mall’s wide range of youthful, trendy clothes and accessories. Its products cater more for ladies, especially those are at their teenager or twenties. If that is you or somebody you travel with, head to Trendy Zone on level 6 to find your loves at reasonable prices.

There are a number of good hair salons and beauty services at the mall for ladies to shine more. A haircut, following by a wash and head massage, at a popular hair salon there may cost you around $13. More importantly, the service and cutting quality are good. Check out a salon with prices listed on boards or visit the local recommended John Siew Hair & Beauty, Wenawave Hair Salon, and Hair Zone Studio.

Sungei Wang Plaza is also a reliable money exchange centre in Kuala Lumpur. Most of its money changers are located on lower ground floor, spreading from Orange Zone and Blue Zone near the mall entrance to Green Zone on the left side. Check the offering rates around for your currency before engaging a service.

4. Petaling Street

Image credit: panutc

Highlights

Lively Chinatown shopping street with a touch of culture: A stroll along this street is a chance to soak up the local atmosphere. Chinese trading culture, red lanterns, and an exciting crowd give us a thrilling start. If you like street shopping, you will have a fun time searching for something to buy there. Low price clothing, shoes and accessories are the most popular products. But worth-buying things must be souvenirs.

Street food mecca: Shopping is just the beginning; the soul of the show there is Chinese food. We can’t get enough of them in one visit because the choices are abundant. Here are the best bites to choose from: Dim sum at Yook Woo Hin, hokkien mee and chee cheong fun at Kim Lian Kee, roasted duck at Sze Ngan Chye, soya bean at Kim Soya Bean, Hainanese chicken rice at Kam Kee, Wanton noodles at Koon Kee, and porridge at Hon Kee.

5. Kenanga Wholesale City

Image credit: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Highlights

A wholesale mall with 800 shops in the heart of Kuala Lumpur: It is a large mall with fashion stores spreading over 8 trading storeys. The best buys there must be ladies’ clothes, accessories, shoes and handbags. Fashion fans should explore it if you have a weekend in Kuala Lumpur – yes, Saturday and Sunday are when many stores welcome retail customers.

A friendly shopping place for Muslim shoppers: There are over 70 shops dedicated to Muslimah wear. Most of them are located on level 3A and 5, offering fashion stuff in both traditional and trendy styles. Halal restaurants are also available at the 5th floor for you to enjoy something tasty after shopping.

6. Low Yat Plaza

Image credit: Adrian Lawrie/Flickr

Highlights

Low Yat Plazais KL’s largest IT mall with around 500 shops spreading over 7 floors. Most of them are small stalls, only a few are large-scale stores. This mall has all things IT on offer, from mobile phones and cameras to laptops and computers. Prices are negotiable, so you can bargain hard and smart for good deals.

Lifestyle facilities are included for a more comfortable shopping experience. Guys can hunt for a good buy on latest tech items on the higher floors while ladies can indulge life in a beauty salon on upper ground floor. Karaoke, food court, coffee shops and fashion boutiques are also there to complete the experience.

7. Taman Connaught Night Market

Image credit: dream dancer/Flickr

Highlights

2 kilometres of shopping: True to its image as the longest night market in Malaysia, the Taman Connaught Night Market is 2 kilometres long, packed with retail stalls and food outlets. Take in the sights and sounds of night market as you browse through the long line of clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, and souvenirs.

Street food extravaganza: Aside from shopping, the Taman Connaught Night Market is also famous for a wide array of food choices. From local delights to Taiwanese, Thai, Korean, and Japanese dishes. Try out some of the bestsellers, including stinky tofu, okonomiyaki, cheesecakes, barbecue, and fresh oysters.

8. The Factory Outlet Store

Image credit: F.O.S

Highlights

Brand shopping for less: Are you looking for good bargains on branded apparel? If so, the Factory Outlet Store is your best choice. Their stores carry brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie and Fitch, and GAP. Give it a visit and find deals that fit you and your budget!

Three major branches conveniently located at KL’s major malls: F.O.S. stores dot all over Kuala Lumpur, you cannot go very far without coming across one branch. But if you want your every shopping need satisfied in one go, head to Berjaya Times Square, Sungei Wang Plaza, and Mid Valley Megamall. They are the 3 famous yet inexpensive shopping malls that host large-sized F.O.S. stores.

9. Kasturi Walk

10. Berjaya Times Square

Image credit: Phalinn Ooi/Flickr

Highlights

A central location mall for all our shopping needs: Berjaya Times Square has many good things that shoppers will love. Its convenient location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is the first plus. It is more attractive when fashion clothes, electronics, food, entertainment facilities and money changers all get together at this iconic mall.

Fashion clothing with a good mix of brands: Berjaya Times Square is famous as a place for affordable clothes and accessories. There is a wide selection of mid-range international names like Esprit, Nike and Bossini. But the real crowd drawers must be local Malaysian brands such as Padini, Seed, Vincci and Soda.

Berjaya Times Square Theme Park is a resident of the mall: It is Kuala Lumpur’s largest indoor theme park with over 20 rides and arcades. Its huge roller coaster system offers fun in different ways. Want something fast and furious? Go with its 800-meter Supersonic Odyssey ride to move past the mall’s galleries with unusual speed. Families will find leisurely rides at Fantasy Garden on level 7.